Egg box



H. A. INMAN June 24, 1930.

EGG BOX Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNV N R ffizrr B ZL'SATTORNE iii 15 1 June 24, 1930. [NMAN 1,767,797

EGG BOX Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNE Z Patented 1.... 24, 1930 PATENT-OFFICE EABBY A. mm, 01' NEWARK, NEW YORK nee :gox

Application filed November 25, 1927. Serial No. 235,505.

This invention'relates to egg boxes, particularly of the type, for example, made from folded blanks of cardboard or the like, one object of the invention being to provide a box of this nature having an improved character of construction which affords increased mechanical strength and increased protection to the contents of the box.

Another object is to provide such a device capable of being collapsed into compact form for shipment and storage and of being quickly and conveniently assembled for use with component parts so interlocked that they will not become disassociated in either collapsed or unfolded condition.

To these and other ends the invention resides in-certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in'the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device set up and opened;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the opposite direction from Fig. 1 and with the top closed;

Fig. 3' is a perspective view of the device folded for packing; v

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank forming the body and top of the box;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a partition element Fig. 6 is a part sectional view showing the manner of assembling the device;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section of the device as illustrated in Fig. 2, with the central longitudinal walls slightly cut away to show the slots therein, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the box filled and ready for shipment.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, No. 193,102, filed May 21, 1927.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, the invention comprises, as herein exemplified,

a body portion 10, and a lid 11, made by folding the blank illustrated in Fig. 4. This blank as there shown is substantially rectangular in shape with tongues 12 on one edge, and is longitudinally scored on lines 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 to facilitate folding. When the blank is folded down at line 16 and up at lines 15 and 17, it will appear as shown in Fig. 6, the body 10 being collapsed and the lid 11 extending therefrom.

The body 10 is provided with a series of slots 18 in the longitudinal walls thereof, which slots are so arranged that when the blank is folded the slots register with each other.

The partition elements 19, as shown in Fig. 5, are formed from rectangular blanks, the upper edges being cut away to form an unsymmetrical stepped trough 26 bounded by the retaining lugs 20 and 21, and the lower edges being notched at 27 and 28 to form three supporting feet, 22, 23 and 24,

the foot 24 being beveled as shown at 25.

In assembling the box, the body blank is folded as shown in Fig. 6 and a partition element 19 is passed through each set of registering slots 18.

As shown in this figure, the trough 26, notches 27 and 28 and bevel 25 are so proportioned with respect to slots 18 that by tilting the'partition elements, and first passing the lugs 21 through the slots, as shown in dotted lines, the elements may be passed through the slots until stopped by the feet 22 and lugs 20. Since the partition elements do not have to be folded in order to be passed through the slots, they may be inserted .rapidly by automatic machinery. When the partition elements have all been passed through the slots in the folded body 10, they may be laid flat as shown in Fig. 3, and the boxes are then ready to be packed for shipment.

When the box is to be used, the body is expanded and drawn apart so that it assumes the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the outer walls being retained at the top by lugs 20 and 21 and at the bottom by feet 22 and 24 of the partition elements 19. a

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 7 that the lower edges of the channel formed by folds 15 and 17 extend substantially below the feet 22, 23 and 24 and that the upper ends of .the slots 18 in the central sections of the body are spaced somewhat above the upper edges of the partitions 19. This causes the box, when empty, to rest on the folds 15 and 17, such support being yieldin inasmuch as the body portions are free to buckle.

When" the eggs are placed in the compartments of the box as shown in Fig. 8, they wedge the side walls outwardly, thus drawing up the folds 15 and 17 until they are spaced substantially above the bottoms of the feet 22, 23 and 24; and the shoulders formed by the upper ends of the slots 18 in the central body sections are drawn down until they rest on the upper edges ofv the partitions 19. It will thus be seen that the eggs arein effect suspended in yielding cradles which conform themselves to the size' and shape of the eggs and support them by. a large surface contact therewith. Furthermore, the-initial shape of the compartments is such as practically to insure the eggs being properly packed with the air cells uppermost.

' It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 4 that the tongues 12 on the outer edge ofthe lid 11. are separated by slots 29', and the ends 30 of the slots are a fixed distance from the fold 13. When the lid is closed, as shown in Fig. 8, the tongues 12 slide in back of the outer edge of the box, the partitions 19 entering the slots 29, and the .ends 30 of the slots resting on top of the partitions. This construction further reenforces the box and stiffens the top so that .it will support a heavy weight without crushing.

The weight of the eggs, and of the other boxes which may be stacked thereon during shipment, is very rigidly supported by the partition elements 19, the thrust being (iirectlly downward from thepoints where the sho ders at the upper ends of the slots 18 and 29 contact therewith, to the feet 22, 23 and 24 located directly thereunder, and the partitions 19 being prevented from buckling by the body members through which they pass. The contents of each box areseparated from every other box by a cushioning space on all sides, formed by the projecting edges of the body member and partitions. All these advantages are secured moreover in a box of standard size which will fit in a standard egg crate for shipment.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitg s n nd h a m a e n ended t cover such modifications as do not depart from the essence of the invention.

I claim as. my invention:

1. An egg box, comprising a body folded to form a plurality of channels, and having re istering slots in the sides thereof terminating short of the tops and bottoms thereof; a plurality of partition and support members extending through the slots and rojecting beyond the channels, said mem ers having feet straddling the bottoms of the channels and having lugs extending above the ends of the slots on the outer sides of the channels to retain' the members in place; the top edges of the members between the lugs being stepped and so proportioned 1 with'respect to the slots in the body that when the body is collapsed, the members may be inserted in the slots, and when the channels are spread and the eggs placed therein, the bottoms of the channels are raised above the bottoms of the feet, and the to edges of the members engage the upper en s ofthe slots.

2. An egg box comprising a body folded to form an egg-receiving channel and having a plurality of sets of cooperating closed-end slots in the sides thereof, and a plurality of partition and support members, one extending through each set of slots and projecting beyond the sides of said channel, each member having a portion for cooperation with the upper end of one of said slots when the box is loaded with eggs and upwardly and downwardly projecting lugs adjacent an end of said'member for retaining a side of saidchannel against outward displacement, the distance from said portion to the extremity of the corresponding lug on the opposite edge of said member being greater than the lengths of said slots, said member having anotch in one edge thereof, the distance from the bottom of said notch to the extremity of a lug on the opposite edge of said member being less than the lengths of said slots so that when said box body is collapsed said member may be inserted through one set of slots by positioning one end of said slots in said notch.

3. An .egg box comprising walls collapsible to lie in juxtaposition to each other and expansible to form an egg-receiving trough between them, said walls having sets of closed-end slots, the slots of one set re istering with each other when said wa s are col apsed, and partition members formed with lugs and so shaped that a partition member may be inserted through a set of registering slots without distortion of such partition member when said walls are collapsed and will be retained by said lugs against removal from said slots when said walls are expanded Y 4. An egg box comprising walls collapslble to lie in juxtaposition to each other and expansible to form an egg-receiving trough v gular relationship to said collapsible walls,

the shape of such partition member preventing removal thereof from said registering slots when placed at any substantially different angular relation to said collapsed walls and also preventing removal thereof from said slots'when said'walls are expanded into position to receive eggs between them. HARRY A. INMAN. 

